Sherri Shepherd Is Every Woman

With all of the success Sherri Shepherd has experienced in her career, it doesn't come remotely close to her mission of being a great mother. This was truly evident in 2008, when she voted for the first time in her life for a president whom her handsome, young son could look to for inspiration as he grows into adolescence. But that joyous moment didn't dawn on the four-year-old lad in the voting booth, because, as Ms. Shepherd so eloquently and amusingly puts it, he was having a temper tantrum.

And what makes the beautiful, curvaceous comic and actress so relatable, is that she knows how to relay anecdotes with a disarming wit that transcends through all of the political correctness and aims right at the truth. After earning her stripes as a stand-up comic, and gaining meaty, supporting roles on sitcoms such as "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "The Jamie Foxx Show," Shepherd decided to challenge herself by becoming a co-host on "The View" in 2007.

After a rocky start on the talk show, it seems that Shepherd has found her niche as the person who unapologetically stands by her convictions, even when they aren't particularly popular. This attribute has led the host to two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Talk Show Host and to share a win with her "View" co-hosts for Outstanding Talk Show Host.

But the 42-year-old's talents are not limited to "The View." She has been continuing to gain movie roles, most recently appearing in the breakout film, "Precious" and also maintaining a recurring role on the TV comedy, "30 Rock." But it's juggling the workload of having her own sitcom, "Sherri," on Lifetime Television and promoting her new book, "Permission Slips: Every Woman's Guide to Giving Herself a Break," that really has the entertainer and devoted mother counting her blessings of success. But the ability to be home in time to kiss her son goodnight every evening must be the truest blessing of them all.